The 2 Secrets To Success In Animation

As you might guess, I find myself giving portfolio and career advice to animation industry hopefuls all the time.

There’s always a list of questions about the objective aspects of the portfolio like page count, layout, type of book, captions and the location of a homemade mediocre logo but none of that really matters… …not if the art is good enough to get the artist hired.

A slick presentation can’t hurt but to me it seems that the amount of creative, financial and emotional energy being spent on the portfolio is grossly disproportionate to what is spent on the craft.

What almost everyone outside of the animation industry doesn’t seem to realize is that ultimately, it’s great work that wins a break and it’s being great to work with that wins a career.

There is no magic recipe for a winning portfolio but hopefuls world-wide can clear their minds, take heart and rest easy if they just commit to the long-term cultivation of what’s inside the body and what’s inside the book.

So, Dear Industry Hopeful, start living like you already have the career (excepting the financial aspects, perhaps) because nobody that truly loves the craft or their career is thinking about page count.

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Comments

Great Points Chris! In the design industry (where I work), often times when hiring, its more about finding a person who’s “the right fit” – ie someone easy to work with – that will get hired over someone who’s really good, but doesn’t connect well.

It’s amazing to think that about 50% of getting a job in the art field has absolutely nothing to do with what you learn in school.

Sound advice Chris.
Being a nice person, having talent and also possessing a healthy amount of persistence seem to be key. These were all factors that helped me get into Aardman and beat the other hoards of other applicants. (Getting a lucky break also helps…)

Great stuff Chris. I will have to remember this as I venture out into the industry soon. I suppose I need to be confident in my work and not worry about fluffing it up to try to make it appealing- if it isn’t working on it’s own none of the fluff will help it right?

Chris- Good point for sure, but I was just agreeing with you about the work is what they want to see, not so much all the “fluff” that is delivering the work. The page count, logo, etc. would be the fluff. Basically it doesn’t matter how attractive the wrapper is if the cheeseburger tastes like garbage.

Dominic Domingo and I had a discussion about this in the Viz Dev portfolio review and we concluded that we should always take cues from the reviewer on what to talk about in our work (responding briefly to their reactions and questions). I definitely want my work to speak for itself, which will come as the result of a lot of cutting and a lot of new work! Great seeing you all at CTNX!

It wasn’t until my first Comic Con and speaking with Scott Kurtz did I start to realize something. I was asking all the wrong questions.

I was the kid who Kurtz would’ve hated (with good reason). Asking about how should a website look, how many shirts should I make, where’s a good place to get plushes done…all when I didn’t even have a single webcomic done.

Rather than see the intrinsic worth in my work and foster that, I was worried about all the gloss and ornamentation.

These days that’s completely reversed, and I hope the transition was not so late as to prevent breaking in (and staying in) this business.

Excellent post, really helped me through a wall of negative and worry- Thanks so much! – I think the relation between diet and success of art is perfect, people worry so much about making things perfect that they never actually end up doing anything at all, and i can’t express enough how much this has been me lately.
Again, Amazing Article 🙂

This is really helpful information. I’ve been so into video games and always loved drawing so I have recently graduated high school and have no art degree. I’m definitely seeking a job in animation or concept art but really have no idea where to start after I get a portfolio together.

Thanks a lot for all the good advices Chris!
Reading what you wrote here made me realize a lot of things I would’ve never noticed by my self.
One of my main problem at the moment its exactly this:
you see, at the moment I’m working in a packaging design studio. I find it hard to shake off from my actual job to jump into a character designer career.
Especially because even if I can relate to other artist online, they look and sound somehow extremely far from me (not geography speaking 🙂 ) and I end up feeling kind of lonely, don’t knowing personally anyone that like me is pursuiting a similar goal…
Your words gave me new entusiasm and willing to carry on on this difficoult, but marvelous path that is a creative career. 🙂
Thanks!

I have big dreams and aspirations of becoming an animator. Its honestly the only thing I have my heart set on that I believe I’d be happy doing. I guess my only barrier that I have with really trying to pursue it is doubts because everyone tells me how unlikely it is, that its not a practical career choice. So what I was wanting to ask is if you have any advice that I could do to better my chances? Or college suggestion? Really any advice would be great. Thanks

i am also facing the same problem….everyone is saying that its not a practical choice to go…but i’m confident enough to succeed…the only thing i need is someone or something to guide me in a proper path…

So I’ve been going to school for a “practical” career path in education. I am quickly finding that I despise it haha and also that I love my art and the characters I create. I’m considering taking classes or enrolling in a program – is that completely necessary to get a look? Looking at schools in southern california. Thanks in advance for your reply!

iv been reading your posts and its really helped motivate me, im a teen fresh out of high school, iv been doing art my whole life and i was blessed to have been going to a public art highschool. im self taught in most of my digital art, iv been doing digital for 8 months now, spending hours without end catching up to the big runners its paying off but im on the verge of looking for a good college that i could somwhat afford, and also trying to make a resume so i can intern with a disney artist here in florida, iv got a long way to go and its very very taunting , youv helped ease that alot

Hi, I’ve read your posts and it really inspires me. Please let me have this space to share of what I am today. Thank you. I am a 28 year old guy, working in a multinational company (NYK). But as far as the work concerns, it doesn’t really goes too well for my passion. Since I was a child, I am already dreaming to be a game designer someday, to make many models and show it to the world by animating them and combining them all one by one. But sadly, I draw like an abstract, not as beautiful as Stan Lee’s drawings. Anyways, I found out that there’s an easy way to make models (digital world), that’s when I became more interested in pursuing my dreams. Also, I like the thing on making scripts for animation. Actually, I got perfect on our exam in my programming class in C++, the sad thing about that is that I shifted to another course (Nursing) which is so far far from computer animation, my previous course was IT, shifted to ComSci, lastly Nursing. But, I haven’t practiced my profession in nursing at all (not when I finished my OJT). Now I am working a shipping company but my passion to become an animator still craving to pursue it. I really want to, but I am afraid if I quit my job, I won’t have any source of income and not so sure if I would engage in animation, I would be hired immediately. I haven’t studied animation in school. I just learned them through youtube and downloading custom tutorials submitted by other animators. Since, this will be my first step in learning, (it’s 3 months now 4 hours everyday (M-F), 8 hours every weekend(Sat-Sun)). I am using Maya 2013. Is there any chance for me to become as pro as you are? I really would like to engage in video and game animation. I am 28 years old. Is there any chance? or should I quit my work to focus on animation?

I’d add one item to this- be coachable. Coachability is essential in any profession, but in creative industries, it becomes mandatory to listen to other, more experienced individuals in your field and learn from them. This, of course, can be both good AND bad. The bottom line though is make each and every experience a learning one and be open to what others within that industry have to say. You don’t always have to agree, but at least listen.

I know my artwork doesn’t really portray very much concept art or character design. Therefore I’m really committed to studying all the fundamentals so I can apply them into the work that will hopefully get me into the industry.

I’m currently at a bit of a low point but this post really simplifies it for me. I’m getting bogged down by all the ‘complications’, all the ‘what if’s and not remembering that I need to focus on the craft and once that is at a high enough level, that hopefully I can get a job doing what I love.

Chris i started life wanting to be a character designer and get into animation. I graduated from cal state la w degree in design but somehow i didnt follow my dream. The past 25 years ive worked as a van driver at a hospital. I hate it. I do it for the health insurance. But now i want to follow my dream and get into animation. Im rusty but willing to put in the hard work and time. What do i do first? How do i get started? Or is it too late for me?
.

Wow, as I look at a lot of the questions and replies on your blog, they all seem to have a common thread. Artists who are frustrated with their present state. Artist who want to step out and make their dreams come true but are frightened. That is me in one way or another. But, I am luckier than most. My husband has a okay retirement, I just need something more.

I want to show be my best and show my creativity through all the negativity, and be what I have always been meant to be. Since the day I made my first doodle, i am through and through an artist.

Just like a lot of you out there, I need courage to step out into the big bad world, do my best and live my dream. I too have always been told I won’t get anywhere. Be a nurse, be a teacher, but not an artist. That is something you do for fun not to earn money.

I never gave up on my dream. With the assets of a world-wide market, we who love being artists have no excuse. Thanks for having an encouraging, insightful blog to help those who are struggling to achieve their dreams. I am going for my dream. I have lots of student debt and fear. To all of us, draw, paint, animate, whatever you do, do it. Even if it is only for a small amount of time each day. But I am throwing away that fear and stepping out into the light. I am making a public commitment to do it. To put my artistic skills to work for me. No more allowing fear to a dominate a creative mind. I look forward to more encouraging advice and help.

I think concerns and legit reasons why someone worries for an artist’s career is one thing, but….to put down artist’s paths and say it is fruitless and a waste, those latter voices ought to be ignored completely.

If they (family, friends, colleagues, etc) demand you follow any path, they pay–otherwise, ignore them or tell them to “pay up first” and see if they back away or actually are serious enough about their “concern” to hand over the assistance. Why go into debt for someone else’s advice?

Nowadays, a degree doesn’t really mean anything special anyway—all that time, money, social life/relationships down the drain for…..debt and going back to your pre-college job as if nothing happened…and regrets if you gave up friendships or a serious partnership to move for school you didn’t really wanna do to begin with..ouch.

Great reminder, Chris. I think it’s very easy to forget these things and get caught up in all the worries. I do that all the time, but I’m trying to fix that. I need to get back on some of the projects that I’ve wanted to work on, or create a new project to devote my time to. Your podcasts and your articles have really helped a bunch.

Hi, I was wondering though, how do you show those things in your portfolio? As in, all the qualities that make you a good artist to work with (either as an artist or as a person altogether). Or where/when are you supposed to let the people that will hire you (hopefully) how valuable and optimistic, etc you are willing to be as a worker?
Loved the blog 🙂

I was in a very uncertain space until I found this. I’ve been drawing for most of my life. It’s always been my dream to build a career in the field, but it’s pretty scary out there and the competition is absolutely terrifying. Thanks to you though I’ve found the courage to plant my feet on solid ground and continue on my journey through our world.

Always believe in yourself and don’t let the doubt get in your way.

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